EFL teacher
Help adults to learn or improve their skills in English and their knowledge of British culture.
Also known as: teacher of english as a foreign language (EFL)
About the job
What it's like
You'll help students to learn or improve their skills in English and their knowledge of British culture. You’ll teach adults from many different countries and cultures, whose first or main language is not English.
Your students may want to improve their conversational English or to help them with their work.
They may need to learn English to:
get into college or university in an English-speaking country
prepare for an exam
prepare for the Life in the UK test which people take when they apply for British citizenship
You’ll need an excellent knowledge of English. You’ll give lively, interesting lessons that will appeal to a wide variety of people. You’ll adapt your teaching style to suit the skills and interest of the class.
As an EFL teacher you'll:
prepare language lessons and activities
produce learning resources
teach useful and enjoyable classes
encourage students to talk to develop language and understanding
set and mark tests and exercises
get involved in social and cultural activities, like sports, social events and trips to other towns and cities
You could specialise in teaching English for particular purposes, such as business or entry to higher education. Or you could focus on practical language skills to help them live in the United Kingdom.
You may find that courses and jobs use different terms, such as:
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL)
English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
These are all different names for teaching English to people who do not have it as a first language.
Hours
Your working hours would vary depending on your employer or the type of teaching you do. Some jobs involve evening and weekend work, or intensive weeks over the summer holidays.
Environment
You would be based in a classroom for most of the time. As well as classroom teaching, you would spend time preparing lessons and materials and record-keeping. In some jobs, particularly in summer schools, you may also be involved in outings and sporting or social activities
Travel
This job offers great opportunities for travel, as EFL teachers are in demand in many countries where English is not the native language.
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- communicative approaches
- automated teller machine
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- motivating others
- mentoring
- coaching
- ethical
- social conscience
- respecting
- empathising
- written communication
- verbal communication
- supporting
- reflecting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Cantonese
Care
Childcare and Development
English
French
German
Italian
Mandarin
Spanish
Urdu
Modern Languages
You would need a recognised Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification.
The most commonly accepted minimum TEFL qualifications are:
Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
Trinity CertTESOL (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
There are various routes into teaching English as a foreign language although many who teach have degrees.
TEFL teachers are in demand throughout the world; many schools do not insist that you have an English or other relevant degree but this can be helpful.
To enter a TEFL qualifications you will need to be over 18 and require at least Highers (SCQF level 6) and usually a degree (SCQF level 9/10).
To enter a degree (SCQF 9/10) you will normally need National 5 qualifications and at least three Highers.
A full time TEFL course can take four to five weeks either in the UK or abroad. You can also take distance learning courses which take longer.
To be over 18 years old
Find the right course for you
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